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Accelerating Research to Cure Visual Snow Syndrome and give patients their lives back

Visual snow syndrome, the spectrum of perceptual disorders, and migraine as a common risk factor: A narrative review

1/22/2022

 
Antonia Klein MD, Christoph J. Schankin MD
First published: 27 September 2021
 https://doi.org/10.1111/head.14213
Abstract

Objective

The aim of this narrative review is to explore the relationship between visual snow syndrome (VSS), migraine, and a group of other perceptual disorders.

Background

VSS is characterized by visual snow and additional visual and nonvisual disturbances. The clinical picture suggests a hypersensitivity to internal and external stimuli. Imaging and electrophysiological findings indicate a hyperexcitability of the primary and secondary visual areas of the brain possibly due to an impairment of inhibitory feedback mechanisms. Migraine is the most frequent comorbidity. Epidemiological and clinical studies indicate that other perceptual disorders, such as tinnitus, fibromyalgia, and dizziness, are associated with VSS. Clinical overlaps and parallels in pathophysiology might exist in relation to migraine.

Methods

We performed a PubMed and Google Scholar search with the following terms: visual snow syndrome, entoptic phenomenon, fibromyalgia, tinnitus, migraine, dizziness, persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD), comorbidities, symptoms, pathophysiology, thalamus, thalamocortical dysrhythmia, and salience network.

Results

VSS, fibromyalgia, tinnitus, and PPPD share evidence of a central disturbance in the processing of different stimuli (visual, somatosensory/pain, acoustic, and vestibular) that might lead to hypersensitivity. Imaging and electrophysiological findings hint toward network disorders involving the sensory networks and other large-scale networks involved in the management of attention and emotional processing. There are clinical and epidemiological overlaps between these disorders. Similarly, migraine exhibits a multisensory hypersensitivity even in the interictal state with fluctuation during the migraine cycle. All the described perceptual disorders are associated with migraine suggesting that having migraine, that is, a disorder of sensory processing, is a common link.

Conclusion

​VSS, PPPD, fibromyalgia, and chronic tinnitus might lie on a spectrum of perceptual disorders with similar pathophysiological mechanisms and the common risk factor migraine. Understanding the underlying network disturbances might give insights into how to improve these currently very difficult to treat conditions.
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  • Home
  • WHAT IS VISUAL SNOW SYNDROME
    • What is Visual Snow Syndrome >
      • Visual Snow Syndrome Overview
    • Visual Snow Resources
    • Symptoms >
      • Blue Field Entoptic Phenomenon
      • Brain Fog
      • Eye Floaters
      • Glare
      • Nyctalopia
      • Oscillopsia
      • Palinopsia
      • Paresthesia
      • Phosphenes
      • Photophobia
      • Silent Migraine
      • Tinnitus
      • Vertigo
  • HOW TO HELP
    • Donate Once
    • Make a Recurring Donation
    • Corporate Giving & Partners
    • Subscribe
    • Connect with us on Social Media
    • Share your VSS story
    • You Can Fundraise >
      • Volunteer Agreement
    • Events
  • WHAT WE DO
    • About
    • Research & News
    • Research Collaborations
    • Meet our VSS Community
  • Donate